Draft regulator



. l NW 30,4943 A. D. coLE 2,335,740

DRAFT REqLAToR Filed nec. 5, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 2 Arthur D. co@

Patented Nov. 30, 1943 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE DRAFT REGULATOR Arthur D. Cole, Minneapolis, Minn. Application December 5, 1941, Serial No. 421,829

8 Claims.

My invention relates to draft regulators and has for an object to provide an extremely simple and practical draft regulator.

An object of the invention resides in providing a draft regulator utilizing a frame having an opening therein with a damper for closing said opening and in providing pivot means for the damper disposed to one side of the center of the damper.

Another object of the invention resides in arranging the frame so that the damper, when in normal position, is substantially vertical and in disposing the axis for the vdamper in a horizontal position above the center of the damper.

A still further object of the invention resides in employing a weight for controlling the movement of the damper and arranging said weight upon the interior of the damper and above the axis of the pivot means thereof.

Another object of the invention resides in providing the damper with a slot and in inserting within the slot a lever having an arm disposed on each side of the damper.

An object of the-invention resides in attaching said weight to one of said arms and in pivoting the said arm in a manner such that the Weight may swing toward and from the damper:

A feature of the invention consists in the specie construction of the pivot means for said lever.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a smoke pipe and draft regulator illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and drawn to a greater scale.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1 and drawn to the same scale as Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a part of the damper and associated structure detached from one another.

, For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a portion of a vertically extending smoke pipe II` which is circular in form and which has connected to it a branch pipe or conduit I2. This branch pipe has a passageway I 3 through it which communicates with the main passageway I4 in the smoke pipe II. The branch pipe I2 is-open at its outer end and may be closed by means of a damper I5 which is mounted for swinging movement in a frame I6. These parts Will now be described in detail.

The frame I6 consists of a tubular portion II which ts into the interior of the branch pipe I2. A bead I8 at the end of this tubular portion engages the end of the pipe and insuresv proper application of the frame to the pipe. The frame may be held in position with the pipe solely through friction or, if desired, screws may be provided which pass through both the tubular portion I'I of said frame and the end of the pipe. The innermost end of the tubular portion I'I is formed with an inturned flange I9 which provides an opening 2l in the frame I6 communicating with the passageway I3 in pipe I2.

The damper I5 is constructed from sheet metal and is formed with a central portion 22 and with a marginal portion 23 offset therefrom. These parts are connected together by means of a beveled portion 24. The marginal portion 23 is of a diameter slightly less than the ,diameter of the opening 2l in the frame I6 so that the damper may move freely Within the frame.

The damper I5 is pivoted to the frame I6 by means of a pintle 25 which extends through the portion 24 of the damper I5 and is disposed upon the interior surface of the central portion 22 of the damper and upon the exterior surface of the portion 23 of the said damper. This pintle at its ends extends through the tubular portion I 'I of the frame I6 and is journaled therein. The pintle 25 is arranged with its axis above the center of the damper I5 and in a horizontal position and serves to support the damper for swinging movement from a position in the plane of the ange I9 to an inwardly extending position, as shown in Fig. 2. The tubular portion I'I of frame I6 is bent inwardly, as indicated at 26 on opposite sides thereof as shown in Fig. 1, to form projections extending inwardly into the opening 2I. 'I'he marginal portion 23 of the damper I5 is formed with notches 21 on opposite sides thereof and into which the projections 26 extend. These projections and notches are disposed at the locality of the pintle 25 and form surfaces at right angles to the pintle which are designated by the reference numerals 28 and 29. Between these surfaces are located washers 3| which hold the damper spaced from the edges of the flange I9, Wherebythe damper is at all times free therefrom.

To limit movement of the damper, two stops 32 are provided which are struck out of the Ametal of the tubular portion I'I of frame I6 and which lie adjacent the flange I9. These stops engage the marginal portion 23 of the damper I and limit its movement when it reaches closing position.

The axis of the pintle 25, being disposed to one side of the center of the damper l5, the weight of the damper below said axis tends to bring the damper into closing position. To partly counterbalance this weight, a segmental shaped counterweight 33 is employed which s attached to the damper upon the inner surface thereof by means of a bolt 34.

The action of the damper l5 is controlled by means of a weight 35 which is attached to one arm 36 of a lever 31. Lever 31 extends through a slot 38 in the damper l5 and is so arranged that the arm 35 thereof is disposed within the interior of the pipe l2 and so that the other arm 39 projects outwardly therefrom. The lever 31 is preferably constructed of sheet metal and has a pivot opening 4i intermediate the ends thereof. The arm 36 is bent at right angles to the inter-I mediate portion 42 of said lever and the Weight 35 may be attached thereto by welding or in any other suitable manner.

For the purpose of pivoting the lever 31 to the damper l5, an ear 43 is struck out of the said damper, which ear projects inwardly into the pipe l2. This ear has an opening 44 in the center of it and the said ear is located adjacent the upper surface of the slot 36. In conjunction withl the ear 43, another ear i5 is employed, which is formed with an opening 43 therein, and which has a lug 4S extending therefrom. This lug is adapted to be received within a depression i1 in the damper l5 disposed beneath the slot 38. A plate 4 8 is attached to the inner surface of the damper l5 by welding or otherwise and overlies the lug 4t of ear 45 and holds the same in place. This plate has a pintle 5l formed on the upper edge thereof which extends jointly through the opening 49 in ear 45, the opening 4| inthe intermediate portion 42 of leverV 31. and the opening 44 in ear t3.` By forcing the plate 4t toward the ear 43 in the assembling of the device, sufficient friction may be provided between the two ears 43 and d5 and the intermediate portion 42 of lever 31 so that the same is frictionally held in position. The plate t8 has an offset portion 52 at the locality of the pintle 25 through which said pintle extends, and by means of which the pintle is iirmly clamped to prevent end movement.

The use of the invention is` obvious. When my draft regulator is mounted on a smoke pipe, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, excess suction in the smoke pipe draws the damper l5 inwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby air from the room in which the pipe is located, passes through the pas.- sageway i3 in branch pipe l2 and into the passageway lll in the smoke pipe ll, thus maintaining uniform suction in the smoke pipe at the furnace or heater. By swinging the arm 38 of lever 31, weight 35 may be moved toward or from the damper l5 to vary the pressure at which the regulator operates. It will be noted that,l when the arm 39 is swung toward its outermost position, the Weight 35 and arm 3S lie substantially parallel to the plane oi the damper l5. The advantages of my invention are manifest. By means of the arrangement of the axis of the pivot means for the damper, the regulating weight of the damper and ii desired the counterweight may be placed wholly within` the interior of the pipe to which the draft regulator is connected. My improved draft regulator may be readily constructed by equipment now available for the purpose and lends itself to mass production. By means of the construction shown, the draft regulator becomes extremely sensitive in action and will accurately maintain the desired suction or pressure at the heater. My device is simple in construction and positive in action and will not readily get out of order.

Changes in the specic form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a draft regulator, a frame having an opening therein, a substantially planiform damper for closing said opening, pivot means for the damper extending transversely thereof, said damper having a slot therein, spaced ears carried by said dam-per at the edges of said slot, a lever extending through said slot and having an arm projecting from each side of the damper, the intermediate portion of said lever being disposed between said ears, pivot means held from radial movement by one of saidl ears and extending thro-ugh said lever, and a weight carried by one of said arms and movable toward and from the damper upon movement of the other of said arms.

2. In a draft regulator, a frame having an opening therein, a substantially planifcrm damper for closing said opening, pivot means for the. damper extending transversely thereof, said damper having a slot therein, a lever extending through said slot and having an arm projecting from each side of the damper, a plate attached to said damper and having a pintle thereon, a pair of ears disposed adjacent the edges oi the slot for engagement with the lever,v said pintle extending through one of said ears and into the lever, and a weight carried by one of said arms and movable toward and from the upon movement of the other of the arms.

3. In a draft regulator, a frame having an opening tlfierein,` a damper for closing said opening and constructed of sheet metal, pivot means for the damper extending transversely thereof, said damper having a slot therein,y an ear struck out of said damper and extending outwardly therefrom at one edge of the slot, a second; ear having a portion overlying the damper and disposed in spaced relation to the first named ear at the other edge ofthe slot, an attaching member overlying said portion of. the second named ear andv attached to the damper, a lever extending through saidk slot and having an arm disposed on each side of the damper, a pin-tle extending outwardly from said attaching member and extending through said second named ear and into the lever for pivoting the same, and a weight carried by one of said arms and movable toward and from the damper upon movement ofthe other of the arms.

4. In a draft regulator, a frame having an opening therein, a damper for closing said opening and constructed of sheet metal, pivot means for the damper extending transversely thereof; said damper having a slot therein, an ear struck out oi said damper and extending outwardly therefrom atv cneedge of the slot, rsaid damper having arecess therein. on the side of said slot opposite the ear, ia second ear spaced from said rstear and disposed at the other edge of said slot, said second ear having a lug received within said recess, a plate overlying said lug and attached to the damper for holding the ear in position, a lever extending through said slot and having a portieri disposed between said ears, said plate having a pintie issuing therefrom and issuing through the second named ear and into said lever for pivoting said lever, and a weight carried by one of said arms and movable toward and drom the damper upon movement of the other of the arms.

5. In a draft regulator', a frame having an opening therein, a substantially planiform damper for closing said opening, pivot means for the damper extending transversely thereof, said damper having a slot therein, a lever extending through said slot and having an arm projecting from each side of the damper, pivot means for the lever having an axis disposed in parallel relation with respect to the plane of the damper, one of said arms having a planiform portion parallel to the axis of the pivot for said lever and a relatively flat weight secured to such portion of said arm, said weight and arm, upon swinging of the other arm, being adapted to be moved into overlying position with respect to the damper or outwardly therefrom.

6. n a draft regulator, a frame having an opening therein, a damper for closing said opening and constructed of sheet metal, pivot means for the damper extending transversely thereof, said damper having a slot therein, an ear struck out of said damper and extending outwardly therefrom at one edge of the slot, a second ear having a portion overlying the damper and disposed in spaced relation to the rst named ear at the other edge of the slot, a lever extending through' said slot and disposed between ears, and a member secured to said damper and having a pintle extending through one of the ears and into the lever, said member urging said ears into frictional engagement with said lever and a weight attached to said lever.

'7. In a draft regulator, a frame having an opening therein, a substantially planiform damper for closing said'opening, pivot means for th'e damper extending transversely thereof, said damper having a slot therein extending substantially parallel with the axis of said pivot means, a lever constructed of sheet metal and extending through said slot, said lever having an arm projecting from each side of the damper, pivot means for the lever having an axis disposed in substantially parallel relation with respect to the plane of the damper, the arm on the innermost side of the damper being bent at right angles to said lever, a relatively flat weight secured to such portion of the arm, said weight and arm upon swinging of the other arm being adapted to be moved into overlying position with respect to the damper or outwardly therefrom.

8. In a draft regulator, a frame having an opening therein, a substantially planiform damper for closing said opening, pivot means for the damper extending transversely thereof, said damper having a slot therein extending substantially parallel with the axis of said pivot means, a lever extending through said slot, said lever having an arm projecting from each side of the damper, pivot means for the lever having an axis disposed in substantially parallel relation with respect to the plane of the damper, each of said arms vbeing planiform, said arms being disposed with their planes at right angles and with the plane of the innermost arm substantially parallel to the plane of the damper and a relatively fiat weight secured to the innermost arm.

ARTHUR D. COLE. 

